Our say: City voters set up interesting choices for November

You can question how much good partisan elections do a city of Annapolis’ modest size. But the traditional party system remains entrenched in Maryland’s capital, meaning that in Tuesday’s primary probably fewer than a quarter of the voters — with independents excluded — narrowed the field for the Nov. 7 general election.

But not everything hews to tradition. In the mayoral race, Democratic voters gave a win to restaurateur Gavin Buckley, who staked everything on an appetite for change, calling for a hunt for innovative solutions for everything from flood mitigation and business revitalization to transportation solutions that don’t center on the automobile.

It was a passionate effort and drew enough enthusiasm to overcome one of the most familiar figures in local politics, John Astle. The state senator had establishment political backing, a big advantage in fundraising and the trust built up by deep ties in the community and 35 years in the area’s General Assembly delegation. When that’s not enough to get the backing of the Democratic Party in a largely Democratic town not known for flinging its arms around new ideas, it has to be ranked as a watershed moment — and perhaps even a generational changing of the guard.

As expected, incumbent Republican Mayor Mike Pantelides brushed off a challenge from attorney Nevin Young. A Pantelides-Astle contest would have revolved around questions of management — Astle stressed that the budget is the key to effective government and had criticized the mayor for running up debts, an approach some Democrats seem to have found less than inspiring. A Pantelides-Buckley race will raise questions about whether the mayor is neglecting fundamental opportunities to improve the city. It seems likely to be one of the most interesting mayoral contests in memory.

In the absence of Republican challengers in their wards, Tuesday’s results pretty much guarantee that Shaneka Henson will follow Kenny Kirby into the Ward 6 seat and incumbent Alderwoman Sheila Finlayson will get another term in Ward 4. In Ward 7, Rob Savidge’s skeptical stance on development — one of the hottest of hot issues — no doubt contributed to his win over a strong opponent, Alexus Viegas.

The result sets up a mayoral contest between Buckley, a Democrat, and Republican Mayor Mike Pantelidies in the Nov....

In what was arguably a stunning early development, state Sen. John Astle conceded to Annapolis businessman Gavin Buckley 45 minutes after the primary election polls closed Tuesday.

The result sets up a mayoral contest between Buckley, a Democrat, and Republican Mayor Mike Pantelidies in the Nov....

(Chase Cook)

In Ward 1 — downtown Annapolis — Eleanor “Elly” Tierney scored an upset win over well-known incumbent Joe Budge, who may have run afoul of controversies over Market House. But incumbency seems to have had the usual advantages in Ward 8 — Eastport — where John “Bumper” Moyer’s community roots and speak-your-mind style couldn’t defeat Alderman Ross Arnett, one of the council’s most visible and active members.

Now, the attention will move to the attempts of GOP challengers in four of the wards to weaken the Democratic grip on the council. Democrats, scenting a shift in the wind, will push back as hard as they can. Seven weeks remain — and they should be interesting ones.